Researchers have revealed the age that British people are twice as likely to cheat. And, quite surprisingly, it’s not when you’re 17 years old outside some diabolical nightclub you got in using your mate’s ID.

Actually, you’re most likely to do the dirty on your partner when you’re 39 years old – an age when you really should know better.

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The study carried out by IllicitEncounters.com, a dating website for married people, found that more people have affairs just before they turn 40.

Other ages that people tend to cheat are 9 (I’m looking at you, Louise, my first girlfriend in primary school), 19, 29, 49 and 59.

You’ll notice that the ‘dangerous’ years for cheating all end in a nine, because these are apparently years that mark a turning point in our lives.

The study also looked at why people choose to have affairs in the first place.

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A spokesperson said:

Our research shows that some people cheat to get their partner’s attention.

If their partner’s a workaholic or unavailable to them, being caught with someone else is a way of saying: ‘Hey, if you love me, pay attention to me!’

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‘Payback cheating’ is also common. If you’ve cheated in the past or done something else to hurt your partner, they might retaliate to get even.

The website’s data also showed that subscriptions increase by 25 per cent during the summer.

So, there you have it. If the sun’s out and your other half is 39, you’d better start paying them more attention. And you might want to check their Internet history.